Can and closure fastener



O 9 7 v J. G. SPRAGUE 3,344,946

CAN AND CLOSURE FASTENER Filed 000. 22, 1965 INVENTOR Fl 6 3 John G. Sprcgue A ORNEYS United States Patent 3,344,946 CAN AND CLGS'URE FASTENER John G. Sprague, Box 90A, Whitrnore, Calif 96096 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,765 11 Claims. (Cl. 220 53 The present invention relates to metal food packaging and more particularly to a lid construction for a can wherein the lid is removed without the aid of mechanical devices and may be used to re-close the can and protect its contents.

In the field of metal food packaging, it has been the general practice to form a reusable lid for a can by providing a tear-strip portion on the can per so which is removed by a mechanical device, such as a key to thereby form a lid portion for the can. Although such constructions have served the purpose, they have not proved entirely satisfactory under all conditions of service, for the reasons that a sealing of the contents of the can cannot be effected until the end face of the can is soldered there-on and also that the lid portion formed after removal of the tear-strip has not provided a good sealing of the can and its contents.

It is therefore an object of the present inventiOn to provide a re-usable lid for metal food packaging which effects a good closure after opening of the food packaging.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lid and can construction for metal food packaging wherein the lid may be removed from the can without the aid of mechanical devices.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a can and lid in which the lid may be pressed onto the can in a manner which seals the contents thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a can having an upper edge which, in addition to its principal functional purpose, facilitates safe handling.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a lid construction for a can in which after the lid has sealed the contents of the can, it is permanently joined to the can.

According to the present invention, there is provided a metal food packaging comprising a can and lid wherein the lidis formed as a separate portion from the can and is provided with a tear-strip about its outer circumference which may be removed without the aid of mechanical devices. The edge of the can and the lid are so constructed as to provide a good seal before the lid is soldered to the can. After initial removal of the lid, it can be continuously reused to tightly close the can and protect its contents.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lid and can construction in accordance with the present invention before the sealing of the lid to the can.

! FIGURE 2 is across-sectional view of a sealed lid and can according to the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view in cross section of a lid and can according to the present invention, after removal of the lid from the can.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE l a can body 5, having a multi-ply, crimped upper edge 7. The plies extend into the can. There is also shown a lid 9 for the can having a central top or face portion 11 and an inverted U-shaped flange 13 extending about the circumference of the central face portion and having an inner leg 15 adjoining the face 11 and an outer leg 17. The inside of the outer leg 17 of flange 13 shall be coated with the same mate-rial as the rest of the inner portion of the lid. This material being solder-resistant. The flange 13 is provided about the outer surface of the leg 17 with a tear-strip 19 which is soldered thereto and in height extends upwardly from the bottom edge of the leg. The inner side of the tear-strip 19 shall be coated with the same material used to coat the inner portion of the lid. This material being solder-resistant. Only the upper and lower edge of the tear-strip 19 is soldered to leg 17 by using the proper solder flux. The tear-strip 19 is provided with a tongue 21 formed by an overlapping of the tear-strip which is coated with rubber or plastic in the overlapping region, except for a small area at the beginning of the overlap, wherein the overlapping portion is soldered to the tear-strip. The tongue 21 may then be engaged to cause a removal of the tear-strip 19 without the aid of mechanical devices.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the lid and can are in a sealed condition, the can 5 having a four-ply upper edge 7 and having the lid 9 inserted thereon. The lid is formed with the U-shaped edge portion 13 having its outer leg 17 eX- tending below the central face portion 11. After the tearstrip 19 has been soldered to the leg 17, a circumscribing incision 23 is made along the inner circumference of theouter leg 17 at approximately the center of the width of tear-strip 19 and cuts only the leg 17 to form an upper leg portion 25 and a lower leg portion 27. The bottom of upper leg portion 25 is about the same height or else extends below the central face portion 11. The lid is cut through without damage to the tear-strip 19 which thereby holds portions 25 and 27 together, even though they are no longer joined. Solder is then placed on the inner circumference of portion 27 by using the proper flux. A suitable sealing material 29 is then placed within the U- shaped flange 13 and the lid 9 is pressed onto the can 5 to seal the contents thereof. While the lid is on the can a circular clamp, with a heat unit, is clamped around the tear-strip 19 holding the tear-strip 19 securely to por tions 25 and 27 and portions 25 and 27 to the can 5. The clamp is slotted to allow the tongue 21 to project radially from the can. Heat is then applied causing the solder on portion 27 to adhere to the can 5, and join portion 27 to the can body.

, FIGURE 3 is a view in cross section of the lid and can after the tear-strip 19 has been removed, which is accomplished by grasping tongue 21 and pulling the tearstrip free of the lid. The lid is shown separated from the can. The tongue 21 of the tear-strip 19 is pulled to the soldered joint between the tear-strip and the lid. Thus, portions 25 and 27 of the lid are no longer joined together and the lid may be separated from the can, as shown, leaving portion 27 adhered to the circumference of the can. Upon reuse of the lid 9, the lid is pressed onto the multi-ply edge 7 and the portion 27 acts as a stop so as to keep the lid 9 in the same position as it originally had before opening of the can. It is noted that the sealing material 29 which is usually of a rubber-like material does not affect the removal of the lid from the can and also permits an improved subsequent sealing of the contents of the can.

A specific embodiment according to the present invention may have the following dimensions. The can 5 and the lid 9 are preferably constructed from the same material having the same thickness T, and may be of the order of inch in thickness. The four-ply edge 7 of the can 5 is therefore 4T in thickness and the inner dimensions of the flange 13 correspondingly have the same 4T inner width in order to receive the edge therein. The edge 7 of the can extends approximately inch from the top of the can and correspondingly the flange 13 of the lid 9 has its inner leg extending at least /8 inch from the top of its inner surface and its outer leg 17, extending downwardly 4 inch from its inner surface with the central face portion 11 of the lid being of any desired shape. The sealing material 29 occupies the upper portion within the flange and extends downwardly approximately inch. The tear-strip 19 is preferably inch wide and extends upwardly from the bottom edge of the outer leg 17 and is soldered thereon from the beginning of the strip to /8 inch past the beginning to form an overlapping portion with the remainder of the overlapping strip extending approximately A; inch further and being coated with rubber or plastic to form the tongue 21. Only the upper inch and the lower A inch of the tear-strip 19 is soldered to leg 17. The solder is of a grade suflicient to hold the lid to the can and meet the desired temperature specification of the canner but not any harder, with the solder coating being applied as thinly as possible. The rubber or plastic on the tongue 21 is of a type sufficient to remain firm at the desired temperatures. After the tearstrip has been soldered to the lid, the lid is cut about the full circumference of the inner surface of leg 17 at inch from the bottom of the outer leg to form portions 25 and 27 at the cut 23, the lid being completely cut through without any damage to the tear-strip 19. Then a coating of solder is placed on the inner and lower inch of portion 27.

Thus, a can and lid therefor is constructed wherein the lid may be pressed onto the can, sealing the contents thereof, and while being held thereon the lid may be soldered to the can by application of heat to the lid. With the construction according to the present invention, there is also formed a lid which may be readily removed without any mechanical device and can be replaced over the can and its contents, thereby closing the contents thereof.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A metal packaging comprising, in combination:

a can having an upper edge which, in addition to its principal functional purpose, facilitates safe handling;

a lid having a flange depending therefrom, said flange conforming to the circumferential configuration of said can and having separated upper and lower portions;

a tear-strip secured about the circumference of the outer surface of said flange and joining said upper and lower portions together, said tear-strip having an overlapping portion forming a tongue for said tearstrip; and

means for joining said lower portion of said flange to said can to form a completely closed packaging whereby the closed packaging may be opened by pulling the tongue of the tear-strip to remove said tearstrip and thus separate said upper and lower portions of said flange so that the lid may be removed to provide access to the contents of the can and then replaced on said can to provide a subsequent sealing thereof.

2. A closed metal packaging having a lid which may be removed without the aid of mechanical devices and which may be reused to close the packaging comprising in combination:

a can having an upper edge which, in addition to its principal functional purpose, facilitates safe handling;

a lid having about the circumference thereof of an inverted U-shaped flange, said flange having an inner leg and an outer leg and receiving the edge of said can therebetween, said outer leg being formed with separated upper and lower portions;

a tear-strip secured about the circumference of the outer surface of said outer leg and joining said upper and lower portions together, said tear-strip having an overlapping portion forming a tongue for said tearstrip; and

means for joining said lower portion of said outer leg to said can body to form a completely closed packaging whereby the closed packaging may be opened by pulling the tongue of said tear-strip to remove the tear-strip and thus separate said upper and lower portions of said outer leg so that said lid may be removed to provide access to the contents of the can and then replaced on said can to provide a subsequent sealing thereof.

3. A metal packaging as defined in claim 2 and further comprising sealing means disposed in said U-shaped flange for sealing said can when said lid is pressed thereon.

4. A metal packaging as defined in claim 2 wherein said upper edge of said can has a plurality of plies with the surface of the can forming one ply and the remaining plies extending into the interior of said can.

5. A metal packaging as defined in claim 4 wherein said upper portion of said outer leg of said U-shaped flange is at least the length of said inner leg.

6. A metal packaging as defined in claim 5 wherein said joining means is solder.

7. A metal packaging as defined in claim 1 wherein said tear-strip is soldered to said outer leg and a part of said overlapping portion is soldered thereon with the remaining overlapping portion forming a tongue having a coating thereon.

8. A metal packaging as defined in claim 7 wherein said coating on said tongue is rubber.

9. A metal packaging as defined in claim 7 wherein said coating on said tongue is plastic.

10. A lid for a metal packaging comprising, in combination:

a top; an inverted U-shaped flange extending about the circumference of said top, said flange having an inner leg and an outer leg, said outer leg having separated upper and lower portions; and a tear-strip secured above the circumference of the outer surface of said outer leg and joining said upper and lower portions together, said tear-strip having an overlapping portion forming a tongue for said tearstrip. 11. A lid as defined in claim 10 and further comprising means provided on said lower portion of said outer leg for joining said lower portion to a can body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/ 1965 Schneider et a1 220-5 3 4/1966 Stolk 22O42 X 

1. A METAL PACKAGING COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A CAN HAVING AN UPPER EDGE WHICH, IN ADDITION TO ITS PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE, FACILITIES SAFE HANDLING; A LID HAVING A FLANGE DEPENDING THEREFROM, SAID FLANGE CONFORMING TO THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL CONFIGURATION OF SAID CAN AND HAVING SEPARATED UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS; A TEAR-STRIP SECURED ABOUT THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID FLANGE AND JOINING SAID UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS TOGETHER, SAID TEAR-STRIP HAVING AN OVERLAPPING PORTION FORMING A TONGUE FOR SAID TEARSTRIP; AND MEANS FOR JOINING SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID FLANGE TO SAID CAN TO FORM A COMPLETELY CLOSED PACKAGING WHEREBY THE CLOSED PACKAGING MAY BE OPENED BY PULLING THE TONGUE OF THE TEAR-STRIP TO REMOVE SAID TEARSTRIP AND THUS SEPARATE SAID UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID FLANGE SO THAT THE LID MAY BE REMOVED TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE CONTENTS OF THE CAN AND THEN REPLACED ON SAID CAN TO PROVIDE A SUBSEQUENT SEALING THEREOF. 